Saudi Arabia captain hopes hosting 2034 World Cup can boost women's game

“When it comes to women’s football in Saudi Arabia, we are breaking records," said Lamia Bahaian, the Saudi Arabian Football Association’s first female vice president as she addressed a Fifa women’s convention in Australia in August.

Saudi Arabia has made massive strides over the past year intending to make its domestic league one of the most high-profile in world football. A summer of unprecedented spending saw the likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez join the Saudi Pro League just over six months after Cristiano Ronaldo blazed the same trail in swapping Europe for the kingdom.

Much like the success of the men’s league, women’s football in the country has also taken off.

There are more than 30 clubs across the Saudi Women's Premier League and first division clubs with 694 registered players, up from 374 in 2021, representing more than 20 nationalities. In June the SAFF announced it was investing 49.9 million riyals in the women's game and said almost 50,000 girls had registered in its inaugural schools’ league.

While there are plenty of tangibles to show the women's game is on the rise in the kingdom, it is hoped that the country's bid to host the 2034 World Cup – Saudi Arabia are the only confirmed bid – will be another shot in the arm for the domestic game.

“Hosting the World Cup would reflect our nation’s profound passion for football and how we’re progressing towards a dynamic in modern society under Vision 2030. The energy of our youth is infectious and it’s very powerful,” Saudi Arabia women's team captain Bayan Sadagah told The National.

When asked about the prospect of Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup in 11 years' time, Sadagah added: “As a captain it makes me feel really proud but also